Team huddles have become customary at the start of an innings, when the captain usually delivers his final words before the action gets underway, but this one was different. As South Africa prepared for their final appearance at this World T20, it was AB de Villiers, the ODI and Test captain, and not Faf du Plessis, the T20 captain, who did the talking. De Villiers led an animated talk in which the only words the television microphones could pick up were "energy, boys, energy," but, with rumours swirling about de Villiers' international workload, it aroused suspicions of his international future.

The advice that should have been heeded

Tillakaratne Dilshan wanted to bow out with a bang and had helped take Sri Lanka to 45 without loss by the fifth over. He took on both the quicks and the slower bowlers, and seemed to be in control. But his partner and stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal couldn't keep up when the pace was taken off the ball. He went for an expansive cover drive without moving his front foot across off the first delivery he faced from Aaron Phangiso. The ball went straight on, snuck between bat and pad and rattled Chandimal's stumps. Dilshan had a few things to say as he walked off but whatever it was, it was too late.

The secret weapon

Farhaan Behardien is South Africa's most underrated cricketer, but he showed his value with the ball today. After being gifted an opening wicket, Behardien thought he had the biggest scalp when Dilshan tried a switch hit but was struck on the pads. Umpire S Ravi rightly thought the ball was sliding down leg but Behardien got his own back. Dilshan brought out a conventional sweep off the next ball and missed again. He was hit in front and Ravi had no doubt that would have gone on to his the stumps, so Dilshan was sent on his way.

The carelessness

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock were involved in a run-out in the previous match against West Indies, which saw Amla lose his wicket, but the pair had not learnt from their mistakes. Amla played a Suranga Lakmal delivery to Dilshan at backward point, took a step forward and then decided against the run, but de Kock was not paying attention. He has halfway down the pitch and then turned back without much haste when he saw Amla's disinterest. Dilshan had already collected and released the ball and his direct hit took out middle stump at the non-striker's end with de Kock nowhere near his ground.

The near blinder

Both teams were playing a match that could have been; it could have been a shoot-out for the semi-finals. Both South Africa and Sri Lanka, however, were knocked out before the last league match of the tournament. In keeping with the mood, a catch that should have been the grab of the tournament was not. Amla had offered half a chance to Lahiru Thirimanne at midwicket the ball before he drove one uppishly to Jeffrey Vandersay at short extra cover. It was hit hard but Vandersay gave it everything. He leapt to his right and got his fingers to the ball, but could not hold on.

AB was not in his real self. he didn't look enthusiastic throughout the tour and it was not giving a good feel to us. except QDK, none seemed to have been enjoying the tour.

Nirav
on March 29, 2016, 10:26 GMT

I am sure many people would've observed something was not right between AB & Faf in this entire tournament & AB body language was all time down; he just wasn't present in this tournament. It was De Kock who was on the roll, he is one little cutie.

grant
on March 29, 2016, 9:07 GMT

My problem with AB is he plays risky shots too early. He must give himself a few overs to play him in like Virat does. Try to stay till the end. In ODI's he do it but 20/20 he is just going from an early stage. And mostly loose his wicket.

Prasad
on March 29, 2016, 6:51 GMT

If workload is the issue for ABD, why not take a break from IPL. I believe playing 14-15 matches within 2 months, constant travelling and peak summer of India in April/May significantly adds to the workload, no? Why not to rest and rejuvenate in these 2 months,,,but we are in 2016, the modern age of cricket and that will not happen..

Zero-Ek Deewana
on March 29, 2016, 6:25 GMT

AB needs to stay we all know he's a big match player

Debra
on March 29, 2016, 4:37 GMT

reminds me of the late Ritchie Benaud to Michael Slater in the commentary box:
"Ooooo," said Slats, "that just snuck under Lara's bat... er Rich, is there the word 'snuck' in the English language?" Benaud paused the immortal pause before bring the microphone to his lips. "I can think of one or two 'ucks' in the English language, Michael, but 'snuh' isn't amongst them!"

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/859817.html

Swami
on March 29, 2016, 1:28 GMT

I dont understand the workload complaint of ABD. He no longer keeps and South Africa plays far less cricket than India. He should be happy to represent his country and win a world cup for them.

Sanjeeth
on March 28, 2016, 20:22 GMT

AB is always a legend no doubt in it. Sometimes luck should favor you in T20 cricket.

Whats with openers running each other out guptill KW rohit dhawan now amla QDK... should practise running with each other lol

Bishwash Lamichhane
on March 28, 2016, 18:02 GMT

@ab Mathew...Lara as well no ? Haha...may be even Lionel messi ? Lol ...ab don't need any trophy to become a legend

Vinod
on March 29, 2016, 11:40 GMT

AB was not in his real self. he didn't look enthusiastic throughout the tour and it was not giving a good feel to us. except QDK, none seemed to have been enjoying the tour.

Nirav
on March 29, 2016, 10:26 GMT

I am sure many people would've observed something was not right between AB & Faf in this entire tournament & AB body language was all time down; he just wasn't present in this tournament. It was De Kock who was on the roll, he is one little cutie.

grant
on March 29, 2016, 9:07 GMT

My problem with AB is he plays risky shots too early. He must give himself a few overs to play him in like Virat does. Try to stay till the end. In ODI's he do it but 20/20 he is just going from an early stage. And mostly loose his wicket.

Prasad
on March 29, 2016, 6:51 GMT

If workload is the issue for ABD, why not take a break from IPL. I believe playing 14-15 matches within 2 months, constant travelling and peak summer of India in April/May significantly adds to the workload, no? Why not to rest and rejuvenate in these 2 months,,,but we are in 2016, the modern age of cricket and that will not happen..

Zero-Ek Deewana
on March 29, 2016, 6:25 GMT

AB needs to stay we all know he's a big match player

Debra
on March 29, 2016, 4:37 GMT

reminds me of the late Ritchie Benaud to Michael Slater in the commentary box:
"Ooooo," said Slats, "that just snuck under Lara's bat... er Rich, is there the word 'snuck' in the English language?" Benaud paused the immortal pause before bring the microphone to his lips. "I can think of one or two 'ucks' in the English language, Michael, but 'snuh' isn't amongst them!"

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/859817.html

Swami
on March 29, 2016, 1:28 GMT

I dont understand the workload complaint of ABD. He no longer keeps and South Africa plays far less cricket than India. He should be happy to represent his country and win a world cup for them.

Sanjeeth
on March 28, 2016, 20:22 GMT

AB is always a legend no doubt in it. Sometimes luck should favor you in T20 cricket.

Whats with openers running each other out guptill KW rohit dhawan now amla QDK... should practise running with each other lol

Bishwash Lamichhane
on March 28, 2016, 18:02 GMT

@ab Mathew...Lara as well no ? Haha...may be even Lionel messi ? Lol ...ab don't need any trophy to become a legend

AB Mathew
on March 28, 2016, 17:38 GMT

According to ALEXK400's logic, Dravid and Laxman are failures too since they haven't won a World Cup.

Alex
on March 28, 2016, 17:25 GMT

"de Villiers' international workload, it aroused suspicions of his international future. "
ABD is a failure in serious matches. I do not know anyone buy him except for entertainment purposes. he is not going to win championship.

Kumarpal
on March 28, 2016, 17:20 GMT

South Africa messed up their combination in this tournament by picking Dale Steyn instead of Morne Morkel who's a better t20 in my earnest opinion.

No featured comments at the moment.

Kumarpal
on March 28, 2016, 17:20 GMT

South Africa messed up their combination in this tournament by picking Dale Steyn instead of Morne Morkel who's a better t20 in my earnest opinion.

Alex
on March 28, 2016, 17:25 GMT

"de Villiers' international workload, it aroused suspicions of his international future. "
ABD is a failure in serious matches. I do not know anyone buy him except for entertainment purposes. he is not going to win championship.

AB Mathew
on March 28, 2016, 17:38 GMT

According to ALEXK400's logic, Dravid and Laxman are failures too since they haven't won a World Cup.

Bishwash Lamichhane
on March 28, 2016, 18:02 GMT

@ab Mathew...Lara as well no ? Haha...may be even Lionel messi ? Lol ...ab don't need any trophy to become a legend

Whats with openers running each other out guptill KW rohit dhawan now amla QDK... should practise running with each other lol

Sanjeeth
on March 28, 2016, 20:22 GMT

AB is always a legend no doubt in it. Sometimes luck should favor you in T20 cricket.

Swami
on March 29, 2016, 1:28 GMT

I dont understand the workload complaint of ABD. He no longer keeps and South Africa plays far less cricket than India. He should be happy to represent his country and win a world cup for them.

Debra
on March 29, 2016, 4:37 GMT

reminds me of the late Ritchie Benaud to Michael Slater in the commentary box:
"Ooooo," said Slats, "that just snuck under Lara's bat... er Rich, is there the word 'snuck' in the English language?" Benaud paused the immortal pause before bring the microphone to his lips. "I can think of one or two 'ucks' in the English language, Michael, but 'snuh' isn't amongst them!"

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/859817.html

Zero-Ek Deewana
on March 29, 2016, 6:25 GMT

AB needs to stay we all know he's a big match player

Prasad
on March 29, 2016, 6:51 GMT

If workload is the issue for ABD, why not take a break from IPL. I believe playing 14-15 matches within 2 months, constant travelling and peak summer of India in April/May significantly adds to the workload, no? Why not to rest and rejuvenate in these 2 months,,,but we are in 2016, the modern age of cricket and that will not happen..

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